Nicole Kidman on life beyond acting

Described as a dark psychological thriller, Nicole says Stoker appealed to her given the opportunity to work with the director, Park Chan-wook.

"The idea of doing something with Park Chan-wook who is extremely revered, particularly among film makers, and it was so different in terms of the style of film," she says.

With such a dark script to work with, Nicole says filming was naturally intense but that the film also took on a particular tone given the language barriers.

"Park doesn't speak any English, so you have a translator there all the time. That just tends to create a completely different mood," she says.

Despite the thousands of scripts she receives, Nicole says she has transitioned away from being a fulltime actress given her focus on her family as well as the personal significance of her work as a Goodwill Ambassador with UN Women, formerly UNIFEM.

"There's certain amount of commitment that you need if you want a career that's just going to be absolutely all consuming and I'm just not willing to do that," she says.

"At some change of your life you have to move into a higher purpose."

Nicole says some of the stories she has heard through UN Women have left her shattered but the work remains an important conduit to instigate change around gender equality and the empowerment of women.

As for whether her children are likely to follow her footsteps, Nicole says she'd be thrilled but that she would never push them.

"It's got to come from within because it's got to sustain you a lifetime," she says.